Disposable paint can extension



Sept. 15, 1959 E. w. wooLFoLK 2,904,208

DISPOSABLE PAINT CAN EXTENSION Filed Dec. 19, 1956 INVENTOR.

.E'Jdon WVlboJfoJk United States Patent 2 Claims.

This invention pertains to paint can extensions, and

relates particularly to a novel disposable extension for attachment to a paint can to facilitate stirring, pouring and dipping ofpaint.

It "is generally recognized that the stirring, pouring and dipping of paint from a paint can is attended by several disconcerting problems, principal among which 'is the filling of the paint can lid groove with paint, and the resulting flow of paint down the outside of the can to the underlying support. Attempts have been made to overcome these disadvantages by providing various types of attachments to shield the upper edge of the can. However such attempts heretofore have not been completely satisfactory, primarily because of complicated construction and therefore excessive cost.

.Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present .invention to provide 'an extension attachment for paint cans which is of such simplified construction as to render the attachment expendable or disposable.

'Another important object of this invention is to provide a paint can extension of unitary construction, which may be .madein its entirety by a single stamping operation.

A further important object of the present invention .iS'tlIlB provision of a .paint can extension which 'is adjustable to conform to various sizes of paint cans.

."Still another important object of this invention is to :provide a paint can extension attachment which may be :mounted .on'the outer surfaceof a paint can, prior to sale ofthepaint.

. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention :will ,appear from the following detailed -deescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,to which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in section, of a paint can extension attachment embodying the features of the present invention, the same being shown mounted in position at the opening of the paint can, a second extension attachment of the present invention being shown mounted about the circumference of the paint can;

Fig. 2 is a foreshortened plan view of a paint can extension attachment embodying the features of the present invention; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1 and showing the arrangement and function of a shield member forming a part of the extension of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, a conventional paint can is shown to include a bottom 10, a cylindrical wall 12, and a top peripheral rim 14 provided with an annular groove 16 adapted frictionally to receive a paint can lid (not shown). The paint can rim 14 is secured at its outer periphery to the upper edge of the cylindrical wall, and said rim terminates inwardly in an inner peripheral bead 18 adjacent the annular groove 16.

The extension attachment of the present invention com- .pr'iscs an elongated strip 20 ,of-flexible material, such as thin metal, plastic, or paper. The latter is preferred for its economy. The elongated strip is reduced vin width adjacent one end, to form a tongue 22. Adjacent the opposite end of the strip there .is provided .a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse slots '24, 26 which are proportioned and arranged to receive the tongue 22.,slidably therethrough. The tongue and .slots thus .form a friction buckle by which to interconnect the .opposite ends of the strip. Although only one slot isnece'ssary, the two slots illustrated provide greater frictional gripping of the tongue, and thus the illustrated embodiment is preferred.

At spaced intervals intermediate the ends of the strip and at one longitudinal -edge of the latter are formed the plurality of tabs 30, 32. 'Eachof these tabsis formed by cutting the strip at spaced intervals inwardly .from said longitudinal edge, to form spaced slits 34 which define the width of the tab. In the preferred construction illustrated, two such tabs are provided, and they :are arranged in such manner, with respect to the terminal ends of the strip, that when the strip is bentto circular form with the tongue and slots interengaged, .the .tabs .and buckle are displaced angularly at approximately intervals.

The extension attachment described hereinbefore is installed upon a paint can in the following manner:

The strip 20is bent to circular form with the tongue 22 reeved through the slots 24, -26 to its maximumlirnit, whereby the circular strip is of minimum diameter. The

tabs 30, 32 then are bent outwardly, and the circular strip placed within the paint can opening, with the tabs resting upon the inner peripheral bead 18. The projecting end of the tongue 22 also rests upon this bead to form with the spaced tabs symmetrical points of supdiameter of the circular strip is enlarged by allowing the tongue 22 to be retractedpartially through the slots 24, 26. In this manner the circular strip may be caused to .fit snugly against the inner peripheral head 18 and thus is retained frictionally in proper position. In this position the lower edge of the strip 20 projects downwardly into the paint can, while the upperedge extends above the paint can rim. This upperedge may be used ,as a pouring spout by which to remove .paint from the can, or it may be used as a scraping edge for a paint brush as paint is dipped from the can. The extending strip also functions to prevent spilling of paint as the latter is stirred preparatory to use.

In Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, there is shown a flap 36 hingedly secured to the outer surface of the strip intermediate the tabs, by such means as the flexible adhesive strip 38. The edge 40 of the flap underlying the adhesive strip preferably is curved approximately to the radius of the circle formed by interconnecting the opposite ends of the strip. This flap functions, in the manner best illustrated in Fig. 3, to overlie the paint canrim 14 in the area of the circular strip 20 most likely to be used as a pouring spout or as a paint brush scraping edge. This flap functions to eliminate completely the possibility of paint flowing down the outer surface of the strip and into the inner groove 16 of the paint can IlIl'l.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, there is shown novel means by which the disposable extension may be attached to the outer circumference of a paint can prior to sale and use of the paint. The cylindrical wall 12 of the paint can generally is covered with the printed sheet 42 carrying the manufacturers trademark, instrucions, and other data. The printed sheet usually is wrapped around the paint can and the overlapping ends of the printed sheet glued together to retain the sheet in position upon the can. Thus, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, the printed sheet is provided with a pair of circumferentially spaced, vertically extending slits 44, 46 dimensioned to receive therethrough the opposite ends of the disposable In this manner, the latter is wrapped about;

extension. the circumference of the paint can and the opposite ends of the extension inserted through the slits to retain said ends frictionally between the paint can wall 12 and the surrounding printed paper sheet 42. It will be apparent that the disposable extension also may carry advertising material or other data, as desired.

An alternative procedure for temporarily attaching the disposable collar to the outer surface of a paint can is to extend the length of the tongue 22 suflicient for reception through the spaced slots 24, 26, as will be evident from Fig. 1 of the drawing. This latter procedure eliminates the requirement of the spaced slits in the printed paper.

i installed in the paint can opening with speed and facility to provide a stable extension which remains properly in place during normal manipulation of the paint can. Still further, the paint can extension of this invention is adapted by reason of its unique construction, for attachment about the circumference of a paint can prior to sale and use of the paint.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the details of construction described hereinbefore may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is primarily illustrative of the invention and is not to be considered as limiting the scope thereof.

Having now described my invention and the manner in which the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A disposable extension attachment for a paint can having a peripheral rim defining the open and thereof, the extension attachment comprising an elongated strip of flexible material, a tongue of reduced width on one end of the strip, the opposite end of the strip having at least one transverse slot therein adapted to receive the tongue outwardly therethrough to form a variable diameter peripheral baud adapted to be inserted into the open end of a paint can and to engage the inner edge of the rim with the lower edge of the band extending inwardly beyond said rim, and a plurality of tabs arranged at spaced intervals along the length of the strip and pivotable on an axis extending parallel to and spaced above the lower edge of the strip, whereby the tabs are movable between a retracted position substantially in line with the lower edge of the strip and an extended position projecting outwardly from the strip for resting upon the rim of a paint can, the lower edge of the tongue being disposed the same distance from the bottom edge of the strip as the pivot axes of the tabs and being bendable outwardly, whereby the tongue functions additionally with the tabs to rest upon the rim of the can and support the strip.

2. In combination 'with a paint can having a peripheral rim defining the open end thereof and a paper covering enveloping the paint can wall, an extension attachment comprising an elongated strip of flexible material, interengaging means for releasably securing the opposite ends of the strip together to form a peripheral band adapted to be inserted into the open end of a paint can and to engage the inner edge of the rim with the lower edge of the band extending inwardly beyond said rim, a plurality of tabs arranged at spaced intervals along the length of the strip and pivotable on an axis extending parallel to and spaced above the lower edge of the strip whereby the tabs are movable between a retracted position substantially in the plane of the strip and an extended position projecting outwardly from the strip for resting upon the rim of a paint can, the paper covering of the paint can having a pair of circumferentially spaced longitudinal slits therein receiving the ends of the strip therethrough, thereby preliminarily mounting the strip about the paint can with the tabs in retracted position prior to use of the strip at the paint can rim.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,153,757 Brending Sept. 14, 1915 1,251,107 Rodgers Dec. 25, 1917 1,746,429 Kelleweay Feb. 11, 1930 2,005,402 Trew June 18, 1935 2,198,158 Fletcher Apr. 23, 1940 2,674,391 Davis Apr. 4, 1954 2,686,608 7 Rock Aug. 17, 1954 2,766,875 Bennett Oct. 16, 1956 2,771,208 Chovanes Nov. 20, 1956 2,837,256 Daner June 3, 1958 

